Clamp-buckle.



Unitarian aars i .atar Operon.

CHARLES B. GRANGER, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

CLAMP-BUCKLE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,835, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed August 11, 1902. Serial No.119,225; (No model.)

.To all zii/wm, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. GRANGER, of Zanesville, in the countyof Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping-Buckles, ofwhich the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a clamping-buckle for use more especially upon bands for potters saggers, trunk-straps, saddle-girths, and for all purposes in which it may be desirable to detachably clasp or secure a strap, band, or web without the use of a tongue or perforations.

A further object of my invention is to so construct said device that the slack in the strap may be taken up to any desired degree by the action of the clamping-buckle, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lisa plan view of a buckle embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken upon the line 2 2, Fig. I, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3 3, Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing aA modification of said invention.

Referring to the drawings, or, represents a metal fitting which forms the main frame of the buckle, said part being cast from brass or malleable iron or formed by means of a suitable die from sheet metal. The part a consists of a back or bottom plate b, which I term the impression -plate, having side walls c c integral therewith, and cross-bars de, Fig. 2, at the respective ends, which are also integral with the side walls. Studs fare formed upon the side walls near the respective ends, by means of which a top plate g, having laterallyeXtended perforated arms 7L, may be rigidly secured and riveted to the main frame, the parts a and g thus combined forming the frame of the buckle. The part g forms a hollow shell, open beneath and provided with depending side flanges c' t', Figs.

2 and 3, the hollow portion forming a housing for a stilf iiat springj. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) A cam 7c is provided with laterallyextended journals Z l, which are mounted in suitablejournal-bearingsm m, formed in any well-known way in the side Walls c c-such, for example, as notches n n-for the reception of said journals, and upon insertion thereof, over which notches lugs 0 o may be bent to hold said journals in place. A retaining-arm p, better shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is formed upon said cam and adapted to engage the retaining-springj, while acompression member q, the bearing-surface of which corresponds to the width of the strap or web to be compressed, is formed upon the cam opposite to the retaining memberp. The inner face of the plateb is provided with one or more grooves r, Fig. 2, opposite the nor mal or clamping position of the compression member q. An actuating arm or loop s is formed upon said cam, said loop being preferably integral therewith and so positioned with respect thereto that when the cam is in a locking position, as shown in Fig. 2, said arm will lie substantially parallel with the plane of the plate b, as shown in said figure.

The web or strap 1f has one of its ends permanently secured in any Well-known way to the cross-bar d, and when it is desirable to clamp the opposite end the operating-arm s is lifted, which raises the compression member q, thereby enabling the free end of the strap to be passed between the plate b and said compression member. The arm or lever s is then forced down to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby firmly compressing the strap against the inner face of the plate b. The action of said cam is such that when said arm is depressed said compression member causes the free end of the strap to move in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow shown in said last-named figure, thereby serving to take up any slack which may remain in the strap. Should any slack remain after the strap is drawn up and clamped, it can all be taken up by holding onto the strap to prevent slip and working the clamping-lever back and forth, which action serves to tighten the strap to any desired extent. So far as I am aware this action is the reverse of that which occurs in clamping-buckles as hereto# fore constructed, and this feature is a very important one in all cases where it becomes necessary to maintain a given tension in a strap or band, which cannot be done with clamping-buckles as heretofore constructed or with those in which a tongue is employed to engage perforations in the strap. In sagger-straps, for example, it is of vital importance that all slack should be taken up. This has been accomplished heretofore by driving wedges between the strap and the sagger, the Objection to which is obvious.

When the strap is clamped in position by the compression member, the action of the springj upon the retaining member p serves to hold it securely in place under all ordinary strains, and it can be so used for most purposes; but I prefer to provide a simple lock or catch for holding it positively in place. Such a device may be varied indefinitely; but I prefer the construction shown in the drawings, in which a projection w is formed upon the end of the part g, said projection being provided with a bore 0c, Fig. 2, into which is loosely inserted a bolt y, having a shoulder, as shown, which is intended to serve as a bearing for a spring z, Fig. 2, which serves tohold the bolt it a normal position. A pin z is provided to limit the forward movement of the bolt. The actuating lever s when pressed down engages the vbeveled end of the bolt and pushes it back to permit the lever to pass under when it is engaged and locked in placaby the bolt, as shown. In releasing the bucklethe bolt is first pushed back, which permits the lever to be raised.

plate, a cam journaled in said frame, a compression member forming a part of said cam, a retaining member formed upon said cam, a spring for engaging said retaining member, and means for actuating said cam to compress the strap or web engaging therewith.

2. A clamping-buckle in which is combined a frame having a compression-plate grooved or roughened upon its inner face, a cam journaled in said frame, a compression member formed upon said cam, a retaining-spring in 4 operative engagement with said cam, an operating-lever and a spring-actuated catch for locking the same in a clamping position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, this 9th day of August, 1902.

' CHARLES B. GRANGER.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, L. HEISLAR. 

